Vehicle window regulator device, method of installation of a vehicle window regulator device, and a vehicle window regulator locking device

ABSTRACT

It comprises a housing ( 3 ) configured for attachment to a panel ( 4 ) for a vehicle door, a toothed component ( 2 ) which is jointed to the housing ( 3 ) and comprises a toothed portion ( 2 ′), a toothed gear ( 5 ) which meshes with the toothed portion ( 2 ′) of the toothed component ( 2 ), at least one arm ( 1 ), which comprises a first end for supporting the window and a second end attached to the toothed component ( 2 ), the gear, the toothed component and the arm being connected so that, as the gear turns, it moves the first end of the arm and a retaining element ( 7 ) configured and installed so that it may move between an operational position, in which it locks the toothed component ( 2 ), and a non-operational position, in which it does not lock the toothed component ( 2 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) ofEuropean Patent Application No. 06380027.0, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is applicable in the field of vehicle windowregulators and more specifically in the field of motor-operated windowregulators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle window regulator usually comprises a housing or support platethat is fixed to the panel forming the door of the vehicle, one or morearms supporting the window by means of various anchorage means, anoperating motor mounted in the housing, which moves a gear that engagesin a toothed portion of a toothed component that is attached at itsopposite end to one of the arms supporting the window, so that the motorbrings about the movement of the gear and the toothed component, givingrise to the movement of the arms and, as a result, the raising orlowering of the window. The window regulator may comprise a guide, whichis also fixed to the vehicle door panel, to which one of the arms isattached in order to secure a guided movement of same.

As a rule, all the components of the window regulator device arepre-installed in the housing (including the drive motor), prior to itsattachment to the door of the vehicle. In these cases, to carry out theinstallation of the window regulator on the vehicle door, first of all,the housing is fixed to a part of the door which lies in the interior ofthe vehicle and then the guide is fixed to the same part of the door.The window is set in place by means of the anchorage means and it issupported by the arms of the window regulator. During the window fittingoperations the position of the arms remains fixed (they do not moveunder the effect of the weight of the window), as the toothed componentis locked by means of the gear, which is held by the drive motor.

It could also be the case that the drive motor is not pre-installed,along with the other components, before the window regulator is fittedin the vehicle door. In this case, at the time of carrying out theinstallation of the window regulator in the vehicle door, the gear willbe engaged with the toothed component, but without there being anybraking mechanism between the two, so the toothed component may move inrelation to the gear, which means that the arms may adopt a variety ofpositions during the installation of the window. We should be takinginto consideration that the position of the arm at the time of theinstallation of the window should correspond to a specific positionbetween the toothed component and the gear, which assures the fulltravel of the window during its operation, i.e. the window is raised orlowered fully. In this case, the drive motor would be fitted afterinstalling the window regulator.

Invention patent JP 2000027532 refers to a retaining device in which thegear engages with the toothed component and is in turn engaged in someprojections provided on a fixed plate that prevent it from moving. Onthe end of the shaft on which the gear is mounted there is a taperedspring that keeps the gear coupled to the plate in its expandedposition. When the motor is fitted on the gear shaft, the gear exertspressure and compresses the tapered spring so that the gear is releasedfrom the fixed plate while the gear and the toothed component are heldin the engaged position.

In this case, when the motor is installed on the gear shaft, the gearwithstands the torsion stress applied by the toothed component, whichmay damage the gear or require a degree of strength in its design thatis unnecessary for its operation. The need to fit this plate alsoinvolves the occupancy of a space between the gear and the electricmotor.

Furthermore, in invention patent DE 3 506 771 we observe a retainingdevice consisting of stops each limiting the travel of the toothedcomponent in two possible directions. By means of this arrangement thereis no locking as such, but rather travel limit positions, so a fixedposition of the toothed component cannot always be guaranteed for theinstallation of the window.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The window regulator device of the invention comprises a device forlocking the position of the toothed component, which enables a fixedposition to be established for the window regulator arm or arms duringthe installation of the window regulator device on the vehicle door soas to facilitate the fitting of the window and be able to assure itsfull travel, both during raising and lowering, all this without it beingnecessary to pre-install the drive motor.

The window regulator device comprises:

a housing configured for fixing to a metal vehicle door panel, on a partof it which lies within the interior of the vehicle,

a toothed component which is jointed to the housing and comprises atoothed part,

a toothed gear which engages in the toothed portion of the toothedcomponent,

at least one arm, which comprises a first end for supporting the windowand a second end attached to the toothed component, the gear, thetoothed component and the arm being related in such a way that, as thegear turns, it causes the first end of the arm to move,

and a device for locking the position of the toothed component, whichcomprises a retaining element configured and installed in such a waythat it may move between one operational position, in which the toothedcomponent is locked, and a non-operational position, in which thetoothed component is not locked.

The retaining element is pre-installed in the housing and it is in itsoperational position (locking the toothed component) until the drivemotor is installed in the housing, i.e. the retaining element is fittedand locking the position of the toothed component during the operationsof setting the window in place on the aforesaid at least one arm andcontinues to hold the position of the window regulator device until thedrive motor is fitted in the housing in a later installation operation.

As will be described later, the actual operation of fitting the drivemotor in the housing causes the retaining element to shift from theoperational to the non-operational position, being from then on theactual drive motor that holds the toothed component in its position byway of the gear.

From this position, the window regulator device is ready for itsoperation (raising and lowering the window powered by the drive motor),during which the retaining element remains fitted in the housing, but inits non-operational position.

The retaining element comprises a first arm provided at one of its endswith interlocking means, which, in the operational position of theretaining element, are disposed in alignment with a part of the toothedportion of the toothed component, thus locking it. The interlockingmeans are preferably made up of at least one tooth with a configurationcomplementary to the afore-mentioned part of the toothed portion of thetoothed component.

The retaining element may comprise a second arm by means of which it isfixed to the housing and which permits a relative movement between theretaining element and the housing so as to shift from an initialposition for installation on it to the retaining element operationalposition.

The first arm and the second arm may be joined by elastic means so thatthe first can move, by elastic deformation of the elastic means, fromthe operational position, in which the toothed component is locked, tothe non-operational position, in which the toothed component is notlocked. This movement of the first arm takes place in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the meshing plane between the first armand the toothed portion of the sector gear, i.e. an imaginary plane thatwould contain the toothed portion of the toothed component of the endand the interlocking means of the first arm.

The retaining element should preferably be made of plastic material.

The housing comprises locking or stop means that prevent the withdrawalof the retaining element in respect of the housing. Specifically, thelocking means are preferably designed to lock the second arm of theretaining element, thereby preventing it from moving in the aforesaiddirection perpendicular to the meshing plane between the first arm andthe toothed portion of the toothed compound, but permitting the movementof the first arm in the aforesaid perpendicular direction. It alsocomprises rotation inhibiting means that stop the retaining element frommoving (turning) in relation to the housing.

The locking means are preferably designed to lock the second arm of theretaining element.

The window regulator device of the invention also comprises a drivemotor which is fitted in the housing after the window is set in place.The drive motor is fixed to the housing by way of at least one bolt witha stem length such that it traverses and passes to the other side of thehousing. This bolt is disposed to match up with the position of thefirst arm of the retaining element, in the latter's operationalposition, so that the fixing of the bolt to the housing causes the stemof the bolt to exert pressure against the first arm, in a directionperpendicular to the meshing plane between the first arm of theretaining element and the toothed portion of the toothed component,causing the first arm to move from its operational to itsnon-operational position, leaving the locking means of the first armdisengaged in respect of the toothed component.

A further object of the invention is a method of fitting a vehiclewindow regulator that facilitates the window installation operationswhen the drive motor is pre-installed in the housing, and the windowregulator device is therefore installed on the vehicle door without thedrive motor.

The method comprises the following steps:

fitting in a housing a gear, a toothed component comprising a toothedportion, so that said toothed portion engages with the gear, and atleast one arm comprising a first end to support a window and a secondend which is attached to the toothed component, in such a way that therotation of the gear causes the movement of the first end of the arm byway of the toothed component and

fitting in said housing a retaining element comprising a first arm,which is provided at one of its ends with interlocking means, disposedin alignment with a part of the toothed portion of the toothedcomponent, thus locking it.

The method of installation also comprises the step of fitting a drivemotor in the housing by means of at least one bolt that traverses thehousing in alignment with the first arm of the retaining element, in thelatter's operational position, pushing the first arm in a directionperpendicular to a meshing plane between the first arm of the retainingelement and the toothed portion of the toothed component, thereby movingthe first arm from the operational position to a non-operationalposition in which the retaining element does not lock the toothedcomponent.

This method enables to install the window regulator device in thevehicle door without the drive motor, leaving the position of thetoothed component and, therefore, of the aforesaid at least one armlocked by the retaining element, with the result that window may befitted in a straightforward and convenient way, with the assurance thatthe window travel will be complete both in both the raising and loweringoperation.

Furthermore, the fitting of the motor at a later stage, with the windowregulator device already attached to the vehicle door panel, makes itpossible to separate the two stages of installation, so that forinstance the supplier of the window regulator device may install this,and then the motor for example may be installed by a different supplierfrom the supplier of the window regulator device.

In the event of the door being configured so that it defines a wet areaand a dry area, i.e. an area that is isolated or sealed (dry area) and anon-sealed area (wet area), it is possible to place the window regulatordevice (without the drive motor) in the wet area, while the drive motorcould be in the dry area, so that the drive motor may have lessdemanding technical requirements and, therefore, be cheaper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description that is being given and in order to assist afuller appreciation of the features of the invention, in accordance witha preferred practical embodiment of same, a set of drawings is attachedas an integral part of this description, wherein for informative butnon-restrictive purposes the following is represented:

FIG. 1.—It shows a perspective view in which we observe the vehiclewindow regulator device that is the object of the invention with thelocking device of the invention in the operational position in which itlocks the toothed component, with the drive motor in its installationposition but prior to its fixing to the housing.

FIG. 2.—It shows an exploded perspective view of the part of the housingin which the retaining element is installed, where the drive motorfixing bolt and the locking means that prevent the movement of theretaining element in relation to the housing are shown

FIG. 3.—It shows a sequence of the installation of the retaining elementin the housing.

FIG. 4.—It shows a diagrammatic side view, wherein a sequence of theinstallation of the drive motor is shown, but in which the motor is notrepresented so as to improve the clarity of the figure.

FIG. 5.—It shows a side perspective view in which we observe theretaining element installed in the housing in its operational positionwith the drive motor in its installation position but prior to its beingbolted to the housing.

FIG. 6.—It shows a diagrammatic representation, wherein a door with awet area is shown, in which the window regulator device is installed,without the drive motor, and a dry area, in which the drive motor isfitted.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the figures a preferred embodiment of the windowregulator device and of the locking device object of the invention isfollowing described.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the window regulator device consists of ahousing (3) for attachment to the door panel (4) of a vehicle (partlyrepresented), a toothed gear (5) that meshes with a toothed portion (2′)of a toothed component (2) attached to an arm (1), which supports thewindow by way of an end not shown. The movement of the gear (5) causesthe movement of the toothed component (2) and this in turn of the arm(1), which raises or lowers the window. FIG. 1 also shows a drive motor(6) for moving the toothed gear (5).

The window regulator device comprises a retaining element (7), mountedin the housing (3) in such a way that it may move between an operationalposition, which locks the toothed component (2) (position represented inFIG. 1), and a non-operational position, in which it does not lock thetoothed component (2).

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the retaining element (7)comprises a first arm (8) and a second arm (8′) which are joined bymeans of an elastic elbow and disposed one above the other.

At its free end the first arm (8) comprises interlocking means (9), forinstance, a pair of teeth of a configuration complementary to a part ofthe toothed portion (2′) of the toothed component (2), so that in theoperational position of the retaining element (7), they are coupled(meshing) with a part of the toothed portion (2′) of the toothedcomponent (2), thereby locking it. This position is shown in FIG. 1.

The housing (3) comprises locking means (13), taking the form forinstance of an elbow lug which is disposed on the second arm (8′) of theretaining element (7), in a direction perpendicular to the meshing planethat is defined between the toothed portion (2′) and the interlockingmeans (9), in such a way that in its operational position the retainingelement (7) cannot be detached from the housing (3).

The second arm (8′) comprises a hole (12) designed to be housed on aturret-like protuberance (10) defined in the housing (3), so that theretaining element (7) can turn in relation to the protuberance (10),parallel to the meshing plane between the interlocking means (9) and thetoothed portion (2′), from an initial position for fitting the retainingelement (7) up to its operational position.

The stages of installation of the retaining element (7) in the housing(3) are described in FIG. 3. First of all, the retaining element (7) isset in place on the protuberance (10) of the housing (3) and isaccommodated in the hole (12) in the retaining element (7), in aposition of the retaining element in which the interlocking means (9)are slightly removed from the toothed portion (2′) of the toothedcomponent (2). The retaining element (7) is then turned in relation tothe protuberance (10) until the interlocking means (9) are engaged(mesh) with the toothed portion (2′) of the toothed component (2). Inthis position, the second arm (8′) of the retaining element (7) isdisposed below the locking means (13) and, therefore, the retainingelement (7) cannot be detached from the housing. In this position, theretaining element (7) is in its operational position, locking thetoothed component (2).

The window regulator device also comprises a drive motor (6) which isattached to the housing (3), by way of a bolt (15). As may be observedin FIGS. 2 and 4, the bolt (15) is disposed in alignment with theretaining element (7). Specifically, the second arm (8′) presents a hole(12) in alignment with a hole (14) in the housing (3) and with a hole inthe panel (4), so that in the position of fixing the drive motor (6) tothe housing (3) the stem (15) passes through the hole in the panel (4)and through holes (14) and (12) until reaching the first arm (8) of theretaining element (7), forcing it upwards in relation to the housing(3), in a direction perpendicular to the meshing plane between theinterlocking means (9) and the toothed portion (2′) of the toothedcomponent (2), causing disengagement (unmeshing) between theinterlocking means (9) and the toothed portion (2′). This is thenon-operational position of the retaining element (7).

The sequence of fixing the drive motor (6) by way of the bolt (15) isshown in FIG. 4.

The installation of the drive motor (6) in the housing (3) by means ofthe bolt (15) causes the retaining element (7) to shift from the lockingposition to the non-locking position. In this way, it completes theinstallation of the window regulator device (with the drive motor (6)),which is thereby made operational for its normal working, so that theretaining element (7) can be fitted in the housing (3) during the normalworking of window regulator, but without interfering with its operation.In other words, the retaining element (7) has performed its function(facilitating window fitting) and is no longer necessary.

The method and device of the invention permit the initial installationof the window regulator device (without the drive motor (6)) in the wetarea (13) of the vehicle door, as may be observed in FIG. 6, and thesubsequent installation of the drive motor (6) in the dry area (16) ofthe door.

1. Vehicle window regulator device, which comprises: a housingconfigured to be attached to a panel for a vehicle door, a toothedcomponent, which is jointed to the housing and comprises a toothedportion, a toothed gear which meshes with the toothed portion of thetoothed component, at least one arm, which comprises a first end tosupport the window and a second end attached to the toothed component,the toothed gear, the toothed component and the arm being connected insuch a way that, as the toothed gear turns, said toothed gear causes thefirst end of the arm to move; wherein, in addition, said devicecomprises a retaining element configured and installed so that saidretaining element may move between an operational position, in whichsaid retaining element locks the toothed component, and anon-operational position, in which said retaining element does not lockthe toothed component; wherein the retaining element comprisesinterlocking means which are disposed, in the operational position ofthe retaining element, in alignment with a part of the toothed portionof the toothed component, thereby locking said toothed portion; andwherein the retaining element comprises a first arm, which is providedat one of its ends with interlocking means that comprise at least onetooth for meshing with a part of the toothed portion of the toothedcomponent.
 2. Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 1,wherein the retaining element also comprises a second arm rotatablyfixed to the housing, permitting the movement of the retaining elementin relation to the housing.
 3. Vehicle window regulator device,according to claim 2, wherein the first arm may move in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a meshing plane between the first arm ofthe retaining element and the toothed portion of the toothed componentso as to shift from the operational to the non-operation position. 4.Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 2, wherein thehousing comprises locking means that prevents the movement of the secondarm of the retaining element in a direction substantially perpendicularto a meshing plane between the first arm of the retaining element andthe toothed portion of the toothed component.
 5. Vehicle windowregulator device, according to claim 3, wherein the first arm and thesecond arm of said retaining element are joined by way of elastic means.6. Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 4, wherein thelocking means comprises an elbow lug which is disposed on the second armof the retaining element, in said direction substantially perpendicularto said meshing plane, in the operational position of the retainingelement.
 7. Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 2,wherein the second arm comprises a hole which is accommodated on aturret-shaped protuberance defined in the housing, with the result thatthe retaining element can turn in relation to the protuberance, parallelto a meshing plane between the first arm of the retaining element andthe toothed portion of the toothed component.
 8. Vehicle windowregulator device, according to claim 1, wherein said device furthercomprises a drive motor for the rotation of the toothed gear.
 9. Vehiclewindow regulator device, according to claim 8, wherein the drive motoris fixed to the housing by way of a bolt, said bolt comprising a stemwhich traverses the housing, in alignment with the first arm of theretaining element, in the operational position of said retainingelement, pushing the first arm in a direction perpendicular to a meshingplane between the first arm of the retaining element and the toothedportion of the toothed component, thus shifting the first arm from itsoperational to its non-operational position.
 10. Vehicle windowregulator device, according to claim 9, wherein said retaining elementcomprises a second arm, and wherein the second arm comprises athrough-hole via which the bolt passes when the drive motor is anchoredto the housing.
 11. Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim1, wherein the retaining element is made of plastic material.
 12. Methodfor installing the vehicle window regulator device according to claim 1,said method comprising: installing in the housing the toothed gear, andthe toothed component comprising the toothed portion, so that saidtoothed portion engages with the toothed gear, installing the at leastone arm, in such a way that the rotation of the toothed gear causes themovement of the first end of the arm by way of the toothed component;and fitting in said housing the retaining element comprising a first armwhich is provided at one of its ends with interlocking means, disposedin alignment with a part of the toothed portion of the toothedcomponent, thus locking said toothed portion.
 13. Method according toclaim 12, further comprising the step of installing a drive motor in thehousing by means of at least one bolt, said bolt comprising a stem whichtraverses the housing, in alignment with the first arm of the retainingelement, in the operational position of said retaining element, pushingthe first arm in a direction perpendicular to a meshing plane betweenthe first arm of the retaining element and the toothed portion of thetoothed component, thus shifting the first arm from said operationalposition to said non-operational position.
 14. Vehicle window regulatordevice, which comprises: a housing configured to be attached to a panelfor a vehicle door, a toothed component, which is jointed to the housingand comprises a toothed portion, a toothed gear which meshes with thetoothed portion of the toothed component, at least one arm, whichcomprises a first end to support the window and a second end attached tothe toothed component, the toothed gear, the toothed component and thearm being connected in such a way that, as the toothed gear turns, saidtoothed gear causes the first end of the arm to move; wherein, inaddition, said device comprises a retaining element configured andinstalled so that said retaining element may move between an operationalposition, in which said retaining element locks the toothed component,and a non-operational position, in which said retaining element does notlock the toothed component; wherein the retaining element comprisesinterlocking means which are disposed, in the operational position ofthe retaining element, in alignment with a part of the toothed portionof the toothed component, thereby locking said toothed portion; whereinthe retaining element comprises at least one arm, which is provided atone of its ends with interlocking means that comprise at least one toothfor meshing with a part of the toothed portion of the toothed component;and wherein the retaining element also comprises a second arm rotatablyfixed to the housing, permitting the movement of the retaining elementin relation to the housing.
 15. Vehicle window regulator device,according to claim 14, wherein the first arm may move in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a meshing plane between the first arm ofthe retaining element and the toothed portion of the toothed componentso as to shift from the operational to the non-operation position. 16.Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 15, wherein thefirst arm and the second arm of said retaining element are joined by wayof elastic means.
 17. Vehicle window regulator device, according toclaim 15, wherein the first arm may move in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a meshing plane between the first arm of the retainingelement and the toothed portion of the toothed component so as to shiftfrom the operational to the non-operation position.
 18. Vehicle windowregulator device, according to claim 17, wherein the locking meanscomprises an elbow lug which is disposed on the second arm of theretaining element, in said direction substantially perpendicular to saidmeshing plane, in the operational position of the retaining element. 19.Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 14, wherein thehousing comprises locking means that prevents the movement of the secondarm of the retaining element in a direction substantially perpendicularto a meshing plane between the first arm of the retaining element andthe toothed portion of the toothed component.
 20. Vehicle windowregulator device, according to claim 14, wherein the second armcomprises a hole which is accommodated on a turret-shaped protuberancedefined in the housing, with the result that the retaining element canturn in relation to the protuberance, parallel to a meshing planebetween the first arm of the retaining element and the toothed portionof the toothed component.
 21. Vehicle window regulator device, accordingto claim 14, wherein further comprises a drive motor for the rotation ofthe toothed gear.
 22. Vehicle window regulator device, according toclaim 21, wherein the drive motor is fixed to the housing by way of abolt, said bolt comprising a stem which traverses the housing, inalignment with the first arm of the retaining element, in theoperational position of said retaining element, pushing the first arm ina direction perpendicular to a meshing plane between the first arm ofthe retaining element and the toothed portion of the toothed component,thus shifting the first arm from its operational to its non-operationalposition.
 23. Vehicle window regulator device, according to claim 22,wherein said retaining element comprises a second arm, and wherein thesecond arm comprises a through-hole via which the bolt passes when thedrive motor is anchored to the housing.